Multi-indicator aviation pilot collision alert

Abstract

A collision alert system employs combined binaural acoustic effects combined with optical indicators to direct the attention of a person in a desired direction. The pilot utilizes normal delay and acoustic modification of high frequencies to determine roughly the direction to look for the target. A corresponding optical indicator is energized in a position corresponding to the target angle to confirm and refine the angle to the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A target indicating apparatus for alerting an occupant of an aircraft to a possible collision hazard with a target aircraft, comprising: means for determining a target angle to said target aircraft with respect to a reference line in said aircraft;   means for optically indicating a direction representing the location of said target aircraft with respect to said reference line;   means for acoustically guiding said occupant to look generally towards said direction; and   said means for acoustically guiding including a binaural acoustic signal having acoustic characteristics related to said target angle, when at least one of a target aircraft range and a target aircraft elevation are such as to present the possibility of a collision.   
     
     
       2. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for illuminating includes a range optical indicator including at least one optical device which is energized when a range to said target aircraft is below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       3. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said range optical indicator includes at least first and second optical devices; and   said first optical device being energized at a first target range, and said second optical device being energized at a second target range, whereby said pilot is alerted to a range to said target aircraft.   
     
     
       4. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for illuminating includes an elevation angle optical indicator including at least one optical device which is energized when an elevation angle to said target aircraft is within a predetermined relationship with a deck angle of said aircraft. 
     
     
       5. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: said at least one optical device includes at least first and second optical devices;   means for energizing said first optical device when said elevation angle is within a first predetermined set of values; and   means for energizing said second optical device when said elevation angle is within a second predetermined set of values.   
     
     
       6. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 1; wherein: said means for optically guiding including means for indicating relative proximity of said target to said aircraft.   
     
     
       7. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 6; wherein: said means for indicating relative proximity includes a red, a yellow and a green optical alerting devices where said red optical alerting device indicates the most serious said collision hazzard;   said yellow optical alerting device indicating said collision hazard; and   said green optical alerting device indicating the least serious said collision hazard.   
     
     
       8. A target indicating apparatus according to claim 1; wherein: said means for optically indicating including means for indicating whether said target is above, below or level with respect to the two-dimensional plane corresponding to said reference line.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus for guiding a viewing angle of a person comprising: means for determining a target angle to a target with respect to a reference line;   a plurality of optical indicators spaced about a head of said person;   means for illuminating one of said plurality optical indicators most nearly aligned with said target angle; and   means for acoustically guiding said person to look in a direction generally corresponding to said one of said plurality optical indicators most nearly aligned with said target angle.